Texas Zone 8 Guide to Flowers, Natives, Shrubs & Butterfly Plants That Thrive in Full Sun

If your Texas garden gets full sun, especially in Zone 8, you already know what happens: plants burn, wilt, crisp, or go dormant by June. Between long spells of 90–100°F heat, reflective light off fences and houses, and inconsistent rainfall, Texas sun can feel like an oven.

The good news? Plenty of native plants, full-sun perennials, and butterfly-friendly flowers thrive in these conditions—if you choose the right varieties and plant them at the right time.

In this guide, you will learn the best spring plants for full sun in Texas, including:

• Texas-native flowers that love heat

• Drought-tolerant perennials

• Shrubs for intense sun

• Annuals that bloom nonstop

• Full-sun butterfly plants

• What to plant in March, April & May

Let’s build you a garden that grows better the hotter it gets.

Why Full Sun in Texas Is Different

“Full sun” usually means 6+ hours of sunlight a day.

But in Texas, full sun often means:

• 8–10 hours of direct sun

• UV intensity that scorches tender plants

• Reflected heat from stone, patios, and fencing

• Summer temps that push roots to 120°F

That is why so many pretty plants you see advertised for other regions fail here.

Texas needs heat-proof plants, not just sun-loving ones. Spring is the ideal time to plant these because roots establish deeply before summer stress arrives.

Blackfoot daisy flowers can handle a lot of sun and are also popular among butterflies.

Best Texas Native Plants for Full Sun (Spring Planting)

Native plants are the backbone of any heat-proof Texas garden. They are extremely drought-tolerant, root deeply, and support local wildlife.

1. Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)

A compact, mound-forming native with white flowers from spring through fall.

Best for: hot dry areas, rock gardens, borders

Why it thrives: hates too much water, loves heat

2. Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)

A long-blooming Texas wildflower that thrives in full sun.

Blooms: April–October

Heat benefit: blooms more in hot summers

3. Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata)

One of the most drought-proof Texas natives for spring.

Benefits: spreads easily, blooms spring–summer, goes dormant during the hottest months but the roots survive.

Look: bright magenta flowers

4. Engelmann Daisy (Engelmannia peristenia)

A consistent early-spring bloomer with daisy-like yellow flowers.

Why it thrives: fast root growth in spring, drought-proof

5. Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)

A shrub-like perennial with nearly nonstop pink blooms.

Sun needs: 6+ hours

Survives: heat, drought, prefers poor soil

6. Four-Nerve Daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa)

Tiny but mighty; great for full-sun hot spots.

Blooms: spring through fall

7. Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)

A full-sun butterfly magnet (especially Queen butterflies).

Blooms: late spring → fall

Best for: full sun, likes a little moisture, great for wildlife gardens

Salvia farinacea or mealycup sage has a long bloom period and endures through heat and drought. (Silver spotted skipper shown feeding).

Full Sun Butterfly Plants for Texas (Spring Picks)

These plants provide nectar even in the hottest months.

1. Lantana (Texas & Trailing varieties)

One of the most heat-proof Texas plants.

Blooms: spring to frost

Best for: butterflies, bees, dry areas

2. Salvia (Native species: greggii, farinacea, coccinea)

Native salvias thrive in full sun and heat.

Benefits: hummingbird magnets, low water

3. Gaillardias

Fiery blooms draw in multiple butterfly species.

Water-wise: thrives in well-drained soil

4. Zinnias (Heat varieties: Zahara, Profusion)

Loved by butterflies; easy from seed.

Best time to plant: April–May

5. Turk’s Cap (for morning sun / afternoon shade)

Tolerates sun but prefers partial shade in hottest months.

Good transition plant between sun and shade.

Salvia greggii comes in reds, pinks and purples, blooms spring through fall, and thrives in full sun.

Best Heat-Proof Perennials for Full Sun in Texas

These perennials survive multiple summers and get stronger each year.

1. Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)

Texas native, evergreen-ish, blooms nearly year-round.

Sun: full sun is best

2. Esperanza (Yellow Bells)

A full-sun superstar.

Blooms: nonstop from late spring through fall

Best for: brutal heat, drought, long-growing seasons

3. Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera)

Heat-lover with red tubular blooms. (Native to Mexico)

Great for: hummingbirds, butterflies

Plant in: April–May

4. Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Tough native perennial with long summer blooms.

Needs: well-drained soil + sun

5. Coreopsis (Lanceleaf & Plains)

Texas heat-proof and long blooming.

Blooms: late spring → fall

Top view of an Indian paintbrush flower, a native prairie plant.

Spring Annuals for Full Sun

These fill gaps and bloom for months.

1. Cosmos

Heat makes them bloom even more.Non-native but still useful for pollinators.

2. Indian Paintbrush

Thrives in Texas soil; great for native pollinators.

3. Bluebonnets

Iconic spring carpet of blue that draws bees and butterflies.

4. Portulaca / Moss Rose

Perfect for blasted full-sun zones.

Agarita blooming, a tough native shrub for full sun in Texas.

Full Sun Shrubs for Texas Heat (Spring Planting Only)

Shrubs MUST be planted in March–April to survive their first summer.

1. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)

Iconic Texas native with purple blooms.

Sun: requires full sun

Benefit: low water, thrives on neglect

2. Dwarf Yaupon Holly

Handles heat and drought once established.

Evergreen with red berries for all-season interest.

3. Wax Myrtle

Fast-growing; good for privacy.

Needs: occasional deep watering in year one

4. Agarita

Native evergreen with early-spring flowers.

Bird-friendly, heat-proof.

5. Texas Kidneywood

Sun-lover with delicate white blooms that perfume the spring garden.

Trailing lantana is great for containers in full sun and heat in Texas.

Heat-Proof Container Plants (Texas Full-Sun Patio)

Even containers can thrive in heat with the right plants:

• Trailing Lantana

• Portulaca

• Gaillardia

• Mexican Feather Grass

• Lemongrass (Tall and edible)

• Coneflowers

Use large pots, as small/black containers overheat.

What to Plant by Month (Full Sun Texas Spring)

What to Plant in March

(best root establishment)

• Salvia

• Coneflowers

• Texas Lantana

• Blackfoot Daisy

• Shrubs (Texas Sage, Wax Myrtle)

• Milkweed

• Bluebonnet transplants

What to Plant in April

(full growth + warm soil)

• Gaillardia

• Winecups

• Zinnias

• Cosmos

• Firebush

• Esperanza

• Coreopsis

What to Plant in May

(only heat-proof items)

• Lantana

• Moss Rose

• Mexican Sunflower

• Sunflowers

• Zinnias

• Four-Nerve Daisy

• Trailing Verbena

Spaded shovel next to newly planted Texas sage shrub or Cenizo.

Full Sun Planting Tips for Texas Heat

1. Mulch Is Your Friend (2–3 inches)

Protects roots from 100°+ heat.

2. Water Deeply, Not Frequently

Promotes deep roots = heat endurance.

3. Avoid Fertilizer on Natives

Most Texas natives don’t need it.

4. Give New Plants Afternoon Shade for 7–10 Days

Temporary shade cloth helps them adjust.

5. Plant Early in the Day

Never transplant in midday heat and sun.

Plants That Look Full-Sun Friendly… But Fail in Texas Heat

Avoid planting these in true full sun:

• Hydrangeas (require shade)

• Garden mums (burn by June)

• Geraniums (Texas sun scorches them)

• Lupines (other than Bluebonnets)

• Petunias (spring only, fry by June)

• Many nursery “full sun” annuals

Choose Texas natives instead—they are adapted for this.

Final Thoughts: Build a Garden That Loves the Sun

If you are gardening in full sun in Texas, spring is the ideal time to plant perennials, natives, and butterfly plants that thrive in heat. With the right selections—especially Texas-native plants—you can build a landscape that grows healthier the hotter it gets.

These plants aren’t just survivors. They are performers.

By choosing heat-proof species now, you will enjoy nonstop flowers, butterflies, and color from spring through fall—with fewer losses and lower water bills.

This article covers one part of butterfly gardening. The Butterfly Garden Cheat Sheet shows how these elements fit together at a basic level.

Related Guides:

The Complete Guide to Butterfly Gardening: How to Attract, Feed, and Protect Butterflies All Year

The Ultimate Texas Zone 8 Garden Guide: What to Plant and When

Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Plants that Survive Texas Heat

Photo credits: Cover winecup flower – peganum from Henfield, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons, Mealy sage – Jeffrey Hamilton, Indian paintbrush flower – Shelley Johnson, Agarita – Patrick Alexander, trailing lantana – Riddhi Ranjan